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Post by DustinM on Oct 12, 2008 15:13:40 GMT -5
I made a new thread to give this posting prominence so that future posters will see it and not ask about it. The truthful reason why Phantasm II isn't on DVD yet is because Universal Studios doesn't want to release it yet. Seriously. That's it.
I recently had the opportunity to speak with representatives from Anchor Bay Entertainment on the condition of anonymity. For the 2009 US boxset, Anchor Bay made an appeal to Universal for the rights to P2. Universal quoted them a price that simply wasn't cost-effective for Anchor Bay.
Some of you have pointed out that Anchor Bay have released Universal titles before, Army of Darkness being an excellent example. As you may know, Anchor Bay released the crap out of AOD and laughed all the way to the bank. You had regular editions, special editions, directors cuts, etc. When the rights reverted back to Universal, they put out their own barebones edition and haven't much leased their films out to Anchor Bay since.
In an effort to pry Phantasm II from Universal's clutches, Anchor Bay made an offer to Universal which included *all* of the original supplements they created for Army of Darkness. These featurettes, commentaries, etc. were included on editions of AOD that are now out of print. This would have allowed Universal to release their own special edition of AOD without having to create costly new supplements. Even still, Universal refused the offer.
So the story is this... YES, Anchor Bay is full aware that YOU in North America/Canada want Phantasm II on DVD. They would love nothing more than to release the film. Furthermore, Don Coscarelli and the cast know you want Phantasm II on DVD. They want it too. There's just no telling when we'll get it.
As a fellow fan, I appreciate the efforts and proposals people have toward getting the film on DVD. No, other companies like Legend Films are not realistic potential distributors. No, a petition simply will not work. Believe it. An unhappy realization we must come to is that we, as fans, can do absolutely nothing to bring this film to DVD any faster unless we multiply ourselves by the thousands and flood Universal with calls and letters. Unfortunately, the phanbase simply isn't that strong.
So.... now you guys have the 411.
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Post by The Never Dead on Oct 12, 2008 15:18:41 GMT -5
Does this mean we won't have to hear people constantly posting about ways to get it on DVD? Because my eyes are sore from reading that over the past year or so. Thanks for the 411, sir.
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Post by mirai on Oct 12, 2008 15:23:45 GMT -5
the ultimate Evil Dead Trilogy box set was released by Anchor Bay as a limited numbeed edition and it came with the directors cut which i might add is better and explains where the mini ashes come from
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Post by gopher in heat on Oct 12, 2008 17:09:06 GMT -5
I never do this, but a one word response seems fitting here...
Word.
(Oh crud... my explanation made it more than one word... ahh and so does this!)
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Post by bigphan1990 on Oct 12, 2008 20:13:51 GMT -5
My rant:
First let me say Thanks alot Universal you bleeps! It goes to show you Universal CAN be greedy! But Anchor Bay is no better either since Bill Lustig left. They can't buy the rights because it's too expensive! That's stupid. I don't care how much it costs to buy the rights from Universa! They don't relise they if they did buy the rights anc co-release it with Universal, they'll make twice as much than the rights cost! The way I see there are a few possibilities:
1. Let Universal buy Anchor Bay 2. Universal gives the rights of Phantasm II to Anchor Bay 3. Universal gives the rights to Legend Films 4. Universal should release the d**n DVD themselves (greddy bleeps.) 5. We call and write to Universal non-stop until they surrender 6. Go on a hunger strike 7. Someone makes a fan DVD using the NTSC Verson from the Japan set adding a bunch load of extras 8. Start a riot at Universal. 9. Let Anchor Bay buy Universal (but what our the chances of that happening.) 10. When we make a wish on our birthday, on the first star we see, an eyelash, etc., we should say "I wish Phantasm II was on DVD in America." 11. Do what Dustin said: "Multiply ourselves by the thousands and flood Universal with calls and letters."
But why must we give up? Did the Hebrews give up after getting to the Wall of Jericho? No! Did Abe Lincoln give up when the Civil War look dark? No! Did Washington give up during the The American Revolution? No! Did Moses give up when he wanted to free his people? No! The point is: WE CAN'T GIVE UP! We can try to get Phantasm II on R1 'til the cows come home. But even after that are we going to become nothing more but whispering winds to Universal executives? NO! If we band together and put our heads together, nothing can stop us from getting Phantasm II on DVD. After all Horrorhound Magazine said the odds of Phantasm II coming to R1 DVD are 75-1. If you want to quit, fine. But I won't! I take great pride being a Phantasm phan and so should you. We can get Phantasm II on DVD once and for all if you just believe.
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Post by The Never Dead on Oct 12, 2008 20:23:31 GMT -5
Bill Lustig was never an Anchor Bay employee. His words when we interviewed him last year: There's a huge different between the American Revolution, The Civil War, & getting Phantasm II on region 1 DVD.
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Post by Natalie on Oct 12, 2008 21:00:44 GMT -5
I highly doubt that if all us fans band together we will do something that will cause Universal to hand over or sell the rights to Anchor Bay.
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briggs
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Post by briggs on Oct 13, 2008 5:55:11 GMT -5
There's a huge different between the American Revolution, The Civil War, & getting Phantasm II on region 1 DVD. Hmm, I wonder what would be harder
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Post by OblivionGoon on Oct 13, 2008 6:45:47 GMT -5
Bill Lustig was never an Anchor Bay employee. His words when we interviewed him last year: There's a huge different between the American Revolution, The Civil War, & getting Phantasm II on region 1 DVD. Yes, a HUGE difference. It is what it is, folks. I don't want to say give up, but.... Thanks for the detailed 411, Dustin.
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Post by bigphan1990 on Oct 13, 2008 8:37:08 GMT -5
What about a benefit? We can show outdoor screenings of Phantasm I, III, and Iv and sell tickets for $15 bucks! The money we make goes to Anchor Bay who can use that money to buy the full price the rights costs to Phantasm II! It's brilliant!
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Post by The Never Dead on Oct 13, 2008 9:14:19 GMT -5
There's no way I'd pay $15 to watch three movies I already own. Plus, I doubt there'd be a huge turnout to this due to the cost of traveling & whatnot. Paying bills & supporting families come before getting Phantasm II on DVD.
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Post by OblivionGoon on Oct 13, 2008 9:49:55 GMT -5
What about a benefit? We can show outdoor screenings of Phantasm I, III, and Iv and sell tickets for $15 bucks! The money we make goes to Anchor Bay who can use that money to buy the full price the rights costs to Phantasm II! It's brilliant! What location would you pick to maximize turnout? Even if everyone that went to the P1 screening in LA gave $15, it would be far from enough to fund a R1 release. Here's a guess at what Universal wants for rights: $5 Mil.
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Post by bigphan1990 on Oct 13, 2008 10:13:45 GMT -5
What if we told Anchor Bay to hold the benefit(s)? Would that work? At this point, are only hope in getting the film on to DVD in the USA is Universal or Legend Films. Let me also say sorry about my continious Phantasm II DVD posts and rants over the past 1 and a half year. I mean I should at least be happy I have the Japanese import. Why do I still keep ranting about a R1 Phantasm II DVD? Maybe it's just not the same. UPDATE: I just finished talking to Luecht of Legend Films Customer Support. I asked them if they held the right to some of Universal films. They said they're trying to. I asked if they should get the rights to some of Universal films asked for the rights for Phantasm II. She said that some people have been asking for that too. Looks like I'm no the only one . I asked to include some special features 5.1 and DTS. She was very nice to me. Don;t you see, there are still people who want Phantasm II on DVD! Should the day Legend Films gets to rights to some of Universal films, Phantasm II MAYBE on the list. we still have a chance!
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Post by OblivionGoon on Oct 13, 2008 10:20:01 GMT -5
It may not be the same, but it's all we got. You can get a $20 DVD player all day long and get the hack for it. You might want to browse www.dvdhacks.com before you buy. It's as easy as that. It's on DVD and it's able to be watched in the US. That's what all of this boils down to.
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Post by The Never Dead on Oct 13, 2008 12:08:23 GMT -5
If Phans want to see Phantasm II on DVD bad enough, they'll import the Sphere set or the Japanese set. I did. I'm content. If it ever gets released on region 1 DVD, I'll buy it. If not, it's no biggie since I already have it. I did the same when I couldn't find The Beyond for a decent price although that particular DVD was a gift from a friend in the UK. Then I found it used for $6 a few months back. I need to import the region 2 UK DVD of Return of the Living Dead 3 since it's uncut.
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Post by OblivionGoon on Oct 13, 2008 12:54:47 GMT -5
Same here TND.
I don't have a DVD player that will play R2, but if I get the itch bad enough to watch P2 I just throw it into my laptop and hook it up to my TV.
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Post by The Never Dead on Oct 13, 2008 14:03:10 GMT -5
I was going to sticky these but realized I couldn't do so. Thanks to whomever did! Great minds think alike.
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Post by OblivionGoon on Oct 13, 2008 14:05:08 GMT -5
I think the Chief made it a stickey.
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Post by The Never Dead on Oct 13, 2008 14:14:15 GMT -5
Chief McNeill.
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Post by gopher in heat on Oct 14, 2008 16:58:06 GMT -5
Ahem! It was I who stickied!
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